Hi KMc my DS is 7 and he is driving me crazy when I am c/m he does love to challenge me, or when we are out. Today just me and my 3DC's were at the shops buying shoes for DD2 then we were going to buy him a spiderman tshirt and a tape player, in clarks him and DD1 were behaving dreadfully then when I called him over as we were by the till I said to him that if he didn't behave he wouldn't get what he wanted and he looked me in the eyes and says 'I don't want it anyway Do you understand me' he then repeated this about 5 times just incase anyone in the shop missed what he had said. Trouble is he hates to be told off in public but instead of behaving he justs strops even more. Needless to say that was the last shop we visited.

Hi Katie, I've said it before, the hardest thing I find about childminding is dealing with my own kids as well as the mindees. I've still got ds2 at home and I only mind very part time as I find having him and the mindees difficult. I can imagine it's a lot easier when your own are at school.

But then the dreaded holidays as you are finding! Yes I think sending your dd to another childminder or holiday clubs are a good idea, if you think of it not many kids want to go to their mums place of work during the holidays and as childminders this is effectively what we are making our kids do in the holidays so maybe the break would do you both a lot of good.

KMc sounds v.similar to DS. I hope the clubs work and that they don't dent your own income to much.

If it wasn't for 1. Not wanting to send the DD's somewhere as well and 2. the money is good. I would be working outside the home, DS really makes c/minding hard for me.
How old was your DD when you started minding?

DS was 5 as well however DD1 was only 1 and she just excepts it as the 'norm' I wonder if that will make a difference when she is 7.
Anyway sorry to move away from the subject. I'm hoping tomorrow will be a better day for you.

I understand. I thought thnt for your after school provision? Is there none available for Cm's?
It does annoy me about all these cc providers that the goverment is bringing in because eventually we will all have to lower prices to get any work.
We are thinking of relocating to buy a cheaper house as the property prices are so expensive here and the 4 bed terrace we have got we could swop for a bigger detached and still afford to pay off some of the mortgatge obv we are taking into consideration that my wages would drop.